Children’s Festival Programme 2015

Below is the 2015 Children's Festival Programme

A ONE-DAY CRAFTING WORKSHOP WITH YASMEEN ISMAIL: ILLUSTRATOR AND STORYTELLERYasmeen Ismail will read from her illustrated stories Specs for Rex and Time for Bed Fred! and will also help you to make some arts and crafts.
Parents are encouraged to stay and help with crafting.

THE BOOK CLINIC COMES TO BANTRY

Welcome to the Book Clinic
Have you finished a series and are you not sure what to read next? Just can’t find a book that interests you? Then the Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic is the place to go! Young readers of all ages are invited to drop in and meet the Book Doctor – no appointment needed, and no nasty jabs or tablets, we promise. After a chat about your favourite books, comics or things to do, the doctor will make a diagnosis and write a prescription for your next reads. The Book Doctor has lots of ideas and there’s a book out there for everyone. For more information on the Book Clinic, see www.childrensbooksireland.ie.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of this event.

The Book Clinic is brought to you by Children’s Books Ireland, the national children’s book organisation of Ireland. Their mission is to make books a part of every child’s life.

MONSTER DOODLE : VIKINGS WITH MARK WICKHAM

Come along and get involved with our interactive Monster Doodle! Meet illustrator Mark Wickham and create the scariest, meanest monster you’ve ever seen! Stretch out and show off your drawing and colouring skills in a huge group drawing session on one massive colouring sheet with your family and friends! The Monster Doodle is in partnership with Children’s Books Ireland.

Mark Wickham is an award-winning illustrator and designer from Bantry. His personal and commercial work has been published and exhibited internationally. Brian and the Vikings is Mark’s first picture book, collaborating with author Chris Judge. It was shortlisted for Best Children’s Book of the year 2014.

The Monster Doodle is brought to you by Children’s Books Ireland, the national children’s book organisation of Ireland. Their mission is to make books a part of every child’s life.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of this event.

A TWO-DAY WRITING WORKSHOP WITH JUDI CURTIN

Judi Curtin will share what she has learned in the course of writing nineteen (how did that happen?) books for children. Learn about beginnings, middles and endings, dialogue, character development and lots more. Bring along books, pictures, chocolate – anything that inspires you!

Judi Curtin surprised many people (especially herself), when her first book was published in 2002. Since then she has written many books for adults and children, including the best-selling Alice and Megan series, which includes Alice to the Rescue and Viva Alice!, and the Friends Forever series. Judi is also the author of the Eva series including her latest book Only Eva. Judi lives in Limerick with her family.

Judi will also read from and talk about her new book Only Eva in a separate event on Wednesday 15 July at 15.00.

FRIENDS FOREVER: JUDI CURTIN AND SARAH WEBB / AGE: 8+

Judi Curtin and Sarah Webb both write books about friendship. But they are also friends in real life. Join them for a fascinating glimpse into their books and their lives. Come with lots of questions to ask Judi and Sarah about their work and being friends!

Judi Curtin will read from her new book Only Eva which is published in May. Eva Gordon doesn't like mysteries – so when new girl Aretta hurries away after school every day Eva's determined to find out why. And Aretta's not the only person Eva's interested in – her friend's granny has been parted from her beloved dog, so Eva decides to cheer her up. But can she? Eva finds that some things are too big and complicated for one girl to deal with on her own... but she has a talent for bringing people together, and together people can do almost anything!

Judi Curtin surprised many people (especially herself), when her first book was published in 2002. Since then she has written many books for adults and children, including the best-selling Alice and Megan series, which includes Alice to the Rescue and Viva Alice!, and the Friends Forever series. Judi is also the author of the Eva series including her latest (and 22nd!) book Only Eva. Judi lives in Limerick with her family.

Sarah Webb will read from her new book The Songbird Cafe Girls: Mollie Cinnamon is Not a Cupcake. Will Mollie ever find a place to call home? Mollie is stuck on a tiny island with her great-grandmother while her mum travels the world filming her new TV series. Mollie is so bored and lonely until she makes friends with Sunny and Alanna at the Songbird Cafe. The Songbird Cafe on Little Bird Island seems like a place where dreams really can come true... Disaster strikes, though, when the cafe is threatened with closure. Can the new friends work together to save it?

Sarah Webb writes for both children and adults. Her Ask Amy Green series (age 10+) has been shortlisted for the Queen of Teen Awards in the UK and the Irish Book Awards. Other books for young readers include Emma the Penguin and Sally Go Round the Stars. Her latest book is The Songbird Cafe Girls: Mollie Cinnamon is Not a Cupcake (age 8+) was published in March 2015 and is set in West Cork. Sarah wrote this book in her family’s house in Castletownshend in West Cork. Sarah teaches writing at the Irish Writers Centre and combines writing and teaching with visiting schools, reading at festivals, reviewing, and curating the children’s programme at the Mountains to Sea Book Festival in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of this event.

Both Judi and Sarah will also be giving workshops for young writers during the festival.

Darkmouth is a monstrously funny debut from the new star of middle-grade adventure. Legends (also known as terrifying, human-eating monsters) have invaded the town of Darkmouth and aim to conquer the world. But don’t panic! The last remaining Legend Hunter - Finn - will protect us.

Finn: twelve-years-old, loves animals, not a natural fighter, but tries really, really hard, and we all know good intentions are the best weapons against a hungry Minotaur, right?

On second thoughts, panic!

“An incredible debut. hilarious and exciting. Terrifying and heart-stopping. Everything a great fantasy series should be. The next big thing is here.” Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl

“One of the great pleasures of being scared is the release of laughter that comes afterwards, and Darkmouth is peppered with sly, gentle wit.” The Irish Times

“The perfect combination of comedy and adventure, which had me enthralled from the front cover to the final fight. A brilliant read!” Sam, age 11 (Lovereading4Kids)

Shane Hegarty was born and raised in Skerries, Ireland, where he now lives with his wife, four children and the latest in a series of unfortunate family goldfish. A journalist and editor with The Irish Times for 14 years, he wrote The Irish Times Book of the 1916 Rising (with Fintan O'Toole) and The Irish (And Other Foreigners). Darkmouth is his first novel and was bought by Harper Collins after a hotly contested auction at the Bologna Book Fair in 2013. It is the first in a series, and with the second Darkmouth novel being published in August.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of this event.

The storytelling caravan is a cosy corner in a world apart, it seems. The audience climbs in among the rugs, sheepskin, golden curtains, carnival-like painted wagon with everything arranged to make you feel like you're stepping into another space and time. In subtle ways, the rhythm slows and it's easier to listen in. Melissa tells stories that revisit classical literature with the spontaneity of oral tradition. Myths from the Americas and Asia enrich her repertory, as well as more familiar stories from Ireland and France. Awarded a prestigious Commission Award from the Arts Council, Ireland in 2009, she spent a year collecting stories among elders in West Cork and training in the oral tradition. She has also received storytelling commissions from the Cork County Council. With the support of Irish storytellers Liz Weir and Kate Murphy and in France with Pierre Delye and Marie Prête, Melissa has crafted and honed her stories. Upcoming adventures include performing in the prestigious Picardie Plateforme du Conte this May and in Quebec this September in the renowned festival "Contes en Îles".

Melissa is the fruit of an improbable union, that of a ravingly enthusiastic Irish American father and an Appalachian hillbilly mother. Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay stories of Jesse James and the wild west mixed with tales of the witch of Pungo and Pocahontas. Her father delivered a good dose of lore on the Bean Sidhe and the fairy folk and her mother gave her colourful renditions of Brer' rabbit and the jack tales. As an adult, an impossibly serious thing, she obtained a BFA from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and an MFA from the University of California, Davis. She began a directing career in New Caledonia, continuing in California, Canada, and France before coming to live in Ireland. Here she finally re-encountered her true passion and first love: Storytelling.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of this event.

A ONE-DAY COLLAGE AND WRITING WORKSHOP WITH SARAH WEBB

*** FULLY BOOKED ***

Create a Fantasy Island: this one-day workshop is perfect for creative youngsters who love making up stories and who also like drawing and collage. Sarah Webb will share her research and writing secrets and will help children create their very own island paradise. During the workshop the children will learn about how a story is created, from initial idea to final book. Sarah’s new series for children (age 8+), The Songbird Cafe Girls, is set on a fictional West Cork island, inspired by Cape Clear and Sherkin Island.

Sarah Webb writes for both children and adults. The first book in her new children’s series, The Songbird Café Girls – Mollie Cinnamon is Not a Cupcake was published in March. She is also the author of the Ask Amy Green series and many other children’s books. Sarah writes many of her books in Castletownshend, West Cork.

*** FULLY BOOKED ***

APPLE AND RAIN: SARAH CROSSAN

Sarah Crossan's Apple and Rain explores the bond between mothers and daughters, and the power of forgiveness. When Apple’s mother returns after eleven years of absence, Apple feels whole again. She will have an answer to her burning question – why did you go? And she will have someone who understands what it means to be a teenager – unlike Nana. But just like the stormy Christmas Eve when she left, her mother’s homecoming is bitter sweet, and Apple wonders who is really looking after whom. It’s only when Apple meets someone more lost than she is, that she begins to see things as they really are.

Sarah’s love of poetry, and her skill in making it accessible for readers of all ages and abilities, shone in The Weight of Water. In this new book its presence is subtle, but just as poignant. A moving, perceptive and beautifully crafted story which has the power to make you laugh and cry.

Apple and Rain is shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards and the CBI Book of Year Award. Sarah will read from and speak about her work.

"This poignant, realistic tale is about learning to love and taking responsibility, and about how poems can tell the truth." Sunday Times

"A great, heartfelt book about two girls thrown together who form a bond that will help them through good times and bad." Kiss magazine

Sarah Crossan is an award-winning writer for Young Adults. Her debut book, The Weight of Water, won the Eilís Dillon Award for a First Children’s Book (CBI Book of the Year Awards), the We Read Prize, a Coventry Inspiration Book Award and a UKLA Book Award. It was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the CLPE Poetry Award. She graduated with a degree in philosophy and literature before training as an English and drama teacher at Cambridge University and has been working to promote creative writing in schools since. She taught English at a small private school near New York until she became a full time writer. She completed her Masters in creative writing at the University of Warwick in 2003 and in 2010 received an Edward Albee Fellowship for writing. Sarah is also the author of Breathe and Resist. Her next book One will be published in August 2015. Sarah lives in the UK but she is originally from Dublin.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of this event.